Trolley conveyer



Sept. 13, 1932. E. v. FRANCIS 1,876,659

TROLLEY CONVEYER Filed Dec. 15. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 13, '1932. v. FRANCIS I 1,876,659

' TROLLEY CONVEYER Filed Dec. 15, 1928 2 Shets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EARLE VERNON FRANCIS, OF COLUMBUS,'OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE JEFFREY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO TROLLEY CONVEYER Application filed December 15, 1928. serial No. 326,381.

in such institutions as automobile factories and the like, for the transportation of machine parts from the points of production to points of use, and the trackways upon which these conveyers travel meander about the establishment with numerous curves of various radii in horizontal planes and with less frequent curves in vertical planes to pass from one floor'to another or to avoid a roadway or other obstruction.

It is the especial object of this invention to provide a conveyer of the class described having improved flexibility, economy of power consumption, great strength in proportion to the weight of the apparatus, durability and convenience and efliciency of operation.

The means whereby I attain these objects are fully set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one unit of my improved trolley conveyer, certain parts being broken away to reveal other parts.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a conveyer constructed according to my present invention, illustrating two methods of guiding the conveyer elements around curves in horizontal planes.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line V-V of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, showing a conveycr constructed according to my present invention, illustrating a curve in a vertical plane.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII;VII of Fig. 6.

Like numerals refer to similar parts in the several figures.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown one of the carrier units of the preferred embodiment of my invention. As here illustrated the carrier comprises a horizontally disposed frame member 1 at each end of which is fixeda transversely extending axle 2. Positioned upon the projecting ends of the axles 2 are anti-friction journal bearings 3 upon which are mounted for free rotation the track-wheels 4 which are adapted to rest upon and travel along the trackway of the conveyer. Fixed in the frame casting 1 midway between the axles 2 is a transversely extending pivotpin 5 from which depends the trolley frame member 6 which is preferably a relatively thin casting the lateral sides of which are flat and parallel. To the lower end of the frame casting 6 is pivotally attached a load supporting member 7 which may be of any preferred construction suitable to the requirements of the material which is to be transported.

The trolley carriage thus formed is adapted to be connected into an endless train of similar carriages by suitable lengths of chain 8 which are disposed for flexure in horizontal planes in order that they may be engaged and actuated by suitable sprocket wheels 9 disposed in horizontal planes wherein they avoid the trackway and the suspended load of the conveyer. The chain sections are preferably made up of a series of links each having two spaced apart longitudinally extending side bars 10 connected at one end by the integrally formed barrel member 1.1 through which extends the pintle 12 to connect the side bars 10 of one link with the barrel element 11 of the following link. Formed on the trailing end of the frame casting 6 are two horizontal lugs 13 suitably spaced vertically to receive the barrel member 11 of the terminal link of the following or trailing chain section. and these parts are connected together by a vertically disposed pintle 14 which extends through suitable apertures in the lugs 13 and barrel 11. Formed on the advancing edge of the frame casting 6 are two laterally disposed lugs 15 spaced apart horizontally a suitable distance to receive the swivel link 16 to which they are connected by a transversely extending pintle 17. At its forward end the swivel link 16 is formed with a barrel member 18) similar to the barrel members of the chain links and adapted to engage the side bars 10 of the terminal link of the advancing or propelling chain section, these parts being connected together by a suitable pintle 19. The proportions of these parts are such that the lateral surfaces of the frame casting 6 lie in the vertical longitudinal bounding planes of the chain 8 of which the casting 6 and swivel 16, taken together, constitute a link having uniform pitch with the other links of the chain, and adapted to work over the sprocket wheel 9 by which the conveyer is actuated. By the horizontal pivotal connection of the frame member with the advancing section of the actuating chain 8 there is afforded sufiicient flexibility in vertical planes to permit the easy passage of the train of carriers around vertical curves, while the Vertical pivotal connection with the trailing chain section tends to maintain the frame casting 6 in substantially radial relation with the track rails of the vertical curves.

The trolley carriages above described are adapted to travel along any suitable trackway, but in the drawings I have shown a preferred construction whereby is attained improved convenience and efiiciency of operation. Throughout the major portion of the conveyer the trackway comprises two parallel angle bars the flanges 20 of which project horizontally outward to afford a supporting surface along which the track-wheels 4 may travel. The horizontal flanges 20 of the track angles rest upon the inwardly projecting ends 21 and 22 of a C-shaped yoke casting 23 to which they are secured by clamping plates 24 and bolts 25. The yoke casting 23 is provided with upwardly diverging bosses which are pierced to receive the diverging suspension and bracing rods 26, 27 and 28. Screw threaded to the rods 26, 27 and 28, are nuts 29, 30 and 31 by the manipulation of which the alignment of the track angle may be adjusted.

Where the trackway changes direction additional supports are commonly provided composed of structural shape built into the structure of the factory building. At such points, however, the track members are preferably secured in working relation by yoke castings 32 similar to the supporting yoke castings 23, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. On vertical curves the tension of the propelling chain 8 tends to lift the track wheels '4 from the rail flanges 20, and in order to maintain these parts in working relation I have provided, at such curves, guard rails 33 lmmedlately above the path of the truck wheels 4 in position to engage said wheels when lifted from the track rails. The guard rail 33 is preferably formed of a channel bar the upwardly projecting flanges 34 of which engage the yoke casting 32 and are held in contact therewith by the clamping bolt 35 which projects through suitable apertures in the yoke casting and in the web of the guard rail.

To carry the conveyer about a horizontal curve of relatively small radius I have provided the suitable sprocket wheel 9 mounted upon a vertical shaft 36 and positioned in a horizontal plane of the driving chain 8. The shaft 36 is so positioned relative to the track angle "that the sprocket wheel 9 affords a guide for the moving parts of the conveyer whereby is prevented friction between the trolley frame 6 and flange 37 of the track angle. Power for the actuation of the conveyer may be applied to the vertical shaft 36 at any such curve. On curves of larger'radius, however, the diameter of the required sprocket wheel renders such a construction undesirable and I have provided a more satisfactory arrangement which is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. As here shown the track angle at the inner side of the curve is cut away and is replaced by a pair of parallel segmental plates 38 and 39 which are spaced apart vertically and are secured in position in any convenient manner as by the angle bars 40 depending from the supporting structure. At spaced intervals the plates 38 and 39 are pierced by suitable apertures through which extend the pivot pins 41 whereon are rotatably mounted the rollers 42 positioned to engage the chains 8 and trolley bodies 6 to guide them around the curve, the track-wheels 4 meanwhile traveling along the upper surface of the plate 38 which, with the flange 20, forms a continuous trackway.

By the construction above described I have provided a trolley conveyer of improved flexibility, of durable construction economical of power consumption and convenient and eflicient in operation. It is to be understood, however, that I do not limit myself to the precise construction here disclosed as it is evident that the devices may be subject to wide variation as to details without departure from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In a trolley conveyer, the combination with a carriage adapted to rest upon and travel along a trackway having a curve in a horizontal plane, said trackway comprising two spaced apart parallel track rails, of a load supporting member suspended from the carriage and projecting downwardly between said track rails, laterally flexible chain sections connecting said load supporting members beneath said track rails to form an endless draft device, means to actuate said draft device to propel said carriage along said trackway, and vertically disposed idler rollers positioned at the inner side of the horizontal curve of said trackway in position to engage said chain and load supporting member as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination with an overhead track having a curve in a horizontal plane, a trolley member movable along said track, and vertically disposed rollers positioned at the inner side of said curve for engagement with said trolley member as it moves about said curve.

3. The combination with an overhead track having a curve in a horizontal plane, trolley members movable along said track and suspended therefrom, a laterally flexible draft device connecting said members, and vertically disposed rollers positioned at the inner side of said curve for engagement with said trolley members as they move about said curve.

4. In a trolley conveyer, the combination with a plurality of carriages having wheels adapted to rest upon and travel along an overhead track, said carriages each including a load supporting member projecting between the rails of said track, a draft chain composed of uniform links, each link comprising spaced apart side bars integrally connected at one end by a barrel adapted to be connected between bars of a succeeding link on a vertical pivot, said supporting member having a recess in which the barrel of one of said links is mounted on a vertical axis, and a connecting link pivoted to said member on a horizontal axis and having a barrel connected to another of said links on a vertical axis.

5. In a. trolley conveyer, the combination with a plurality of carriages having wheels .adapted to rest upon and travel along an overhead track, said carriages each including a load supporting member projecting between the rails f said track, a draft chain composed of uniform links, each link comprising spaced apart side bars integrally connected at one endby a barrel adapted to be connected between bars of a succeeding link on a vertical pivot, said supporting member having a recess in which the barrel of one of said links is mounted on a vertical axis, and a connecting link pivoted to said member on a horizontal axis and having a barrel connected to another of said links on a vertical axis, said connecting link and supporting member having the same pitch as said draft chain links. a

6. In a trolley conveyer, the combination with a plurality of carriages having wheels adapted to rest upon and travel along an overhead track, said carriages each including a load supporting member projecting between the rails of said track, a draft chain composed of uniform links, each link comprising spaced apart side bars integrally connected at one end by a barrel adapted to be connected between the bars of a succeeding link on a vertical pivot, said supporting member having a recess in its trailing end in which the barrel of one of said links is mounted on a vertical axis, said supporting member having its leading end provided with a pairof lugs projecting beyond the forward edge of said member, and a connecting link pivoted between said lugs on a horizontal axis and having a barrel connected to another of said links on a vertical axis.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EARLE VERNON FRANCIS. 

